“Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, a people in whose heart is My law; Do not fear the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their reviling, for it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, and if you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”

How many times have we done wrong in God’s sight, yet, we never humble ourselves before him, but, still think we should be delivered from his judgment? Let us pray! Lord, we have not obeyed the voice of You, our God, to walk in Your teachings which You have set before us; therefore, open shame belongs to us, but, to You, O Lord, belong compassion and forgiveness. We have sinned before You, and we humbly confess them now in Your presence. We will amend our ways and obey Your voice, and ask You to have mercy upon us, O God, and in Your loving-kindness to blot out our offenses. Our times are in Your hands O Lord, do to us whatever seems best to You, but, please, make Your face to shine upon us, Your humble servants, save us in Your loving kindness, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion, your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world, are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And, after you have suffered for a while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen!”

Would you depend on Jesus when you are going through a rough time? I do! “I would have the Savior with me, for my faith at best is weak, he can whisper words of comfort that no other voice can speak. I would have the Savior with me, in the onward march of life, through the tempest and the sunshine, through the battle and the strife. I would have the Savior with me that his eye the way may guide, till I reach the vale of Jordan, till I cross the rolling side.” Thank you, Lord!

“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law, you have fallen from grace.” Am I talking to anyone this morning?  If am I talking to you, know that you are not alone. All of us who have been saved, have fallen in one way or the other, and we question ourselves saying, “When we did not know God, we served those which by nature were not gods, but, after we were made joint heirs with Christ, after we had been redeemed, how is it, that we turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which we desire again to be in bondage?” My brothers and sisters in Christ, if you are in this situation this morning, be no longer estranged from Christ, but return to him earnestly, you are a child of promise. Stand fast therefore, in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. STAND! Not in your strength alone, but in the strength of Christ.

How many times have you been at the brink of despair and out of what seems like nowhere, light shines in your darkness? God has perfect timing, trust him! We worry so much about everything, but worrying does not change anything, but trusting in God changes everything. My brothers and sisters in Christ, let us learn to thank God for what we have, and trust him for what we need. For when God pushes us to our limits, we should trust him fully; because, he will either break our fall or show us a way out. “God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform, he plants, his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm.” Will you trust him?

There are so many things that we go through, and instead of calling upon the Lord, trusting in his faithfulness, we lose heart and stray away from his judgments. Lord, let your word be a lantern to our feet and a light to our path. Allow nothing that we go through to cause us to lose our way anymore. We are determined to keep your righteous judgments. Help us, Lord!

Too many times we have been disappointed because of one promise or the other that was made to us by our friends, family, or loved ones did not happen. We get angry or upset and that relationship sometimes is broken for life. But, is this the right attitude for us to have? No! Because Psalm 146 reminds us, that we should not put our trust in man who will fail us, but that happy is the man who has the God of Jacob for his help. My brothers and sisters in Christ, our God is not a God who will lie, for whatever promise he makes to us, will come to pass at the appointed time. Therefore, do not take it to heart when our earthly friends fail us, or when they change with the changing years, but, trust in God, whose promises are for life. He who trusts in the Lord, will never be disappointed.

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith, for there will be laid up for you a crown of righteousness.”

“Jesus in sickness, and Jesus in health, Jesus in poverty, comfort and wealth, sunshine or tempest, whatever it be; He is my Safety, Jesus for me! He is my Refuge, my Rock, and my Tower. He is my Fortress, my Strength, and my Power; Life Everlasting, my Dayman is He, Blessed Redeemer, Jesus for me! He is my Prophet, my Priest, and my King, He is my Bread of Life, Fountain and Spring. Bright Sun of Righteousness, Daystar is He, Horn of Salvation, Jesus for me! Jesus in sorrow, in joy, or in pain, Jesus my Treasure, in loss or in gain, Constant Companion where’er I may be, living or dying, Jesus for me!” Oh, praise the Lord!